Education, vocation, location. 

I have always had a passion for creativity so pursuing graphic design in college was a natural fit. My career has taken me around the world, from sleepless New York to sheep-filled New Zealand and Lakeside Chicago to Morningside in Brisbane, Australia. I started out in mid-sized design firms, then became a partner in my own small design studio before transitioning to advertising.

Walking a mile (or sometimes a kilometer) in other people’s shoes. 

I was able to bring my foundational strengths and expertise in design to supply structure and a disciplined surgical efficiency to the process of campaign execution.

My experience in smaller companies and as an owner/operator in my own practice made me more empathetic to roles outside my own. I have insight into the strengths and limitations of other departments and recognize the skills required to achieve the careful balance of the client/agency relationship. This understanding enables me to collaborate effectively and give support to others through both my work and my leadership role. My work and the work of my team is only successful if the network of supporting players - the project managers, the account team, the producers, directors and management etc, are included in our process and valued for their varied skill sets. 

Teaching the virtues to a virtual team. 

Over the years, I have learned a lot about managing teams and people. I support my designers and animators and understand their roles from having done much of it myself. Proper onboarding has been key to my teams success. With the transition from working in a close-quartered creative office to a fully remote world of physically disconnected people, I make it a priority to bring people together virtually and enjoy ending status meetings with a bad dad joke and a short round of Jeopardy.